A largemouth bass exploded from the water to eat Charl Schwartzel’s golf ball at LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
The Incident
Schwartzel’s tee shot on the 134-yard, par-3 seventh hole landed on the green before spinning backward and rolling toward the water. The instant the ball hit the pond, a largemouth bass gobbled it up.
Largemouth bass are ambush predators whose normal menu includes fish, crayfish, and frogs. They’ll also take live baits including lizards, insects, and even small mice when given the opportunity.
Consequences
Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, ultimately took relief and a one-stroke penalty before making bogey. Golf’s rules generally say there is no penalty when an outside influence — including an animal — moves a ball at rest, and the ball is ordinarily replaced. However, Schwartzel’s ball had already entered the penalty area.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
